Tim Bradley speaking to the media on Saturday night following the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Brian Vera match (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)

By Chris Robinson

There were several mixed opinions in the air following Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s controversial ten-round decision over Brian Vera on Saturday night.

Inside of the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., Chavez would see scorecards of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 favor him, yet the tallies didn’t do justice to just how persistent and determined Vera was during their HBO showdown.

Sharing his thoughts after the action, Tim Bradley, the sport’s reigning WBO welterweight champion, seemed to side with Vera’s activity over Chavez’s power punches.

“I thought it was an interesting fight, man,” Bradley stated. “I thought [Vera] was the busier fighter. I thought he won the early rounds, some of the end rounds. But I thought that Chavez definitely landed the harder punches. He hurt him in numerous rounds with good shots.

“Personally, I would have went for Vera,” Bradley continued. “He was busier and he was landing the punches and he came to fight.”

There was much confusion in the days leading up to the fight, as Chavez revealed this past Tuesday that he wasn’t going to be able to make the contracted catch weight limit of 168 pounds.

The two sides agreed to come in at 173 pounds and there was talk all week of a serious lack of discipline from Chavez’s end.

Speaking on the Mexican star’s future, Bradley thinks he needs to look in the mirror and decide if this sport is truly his calling.

“He really just got to refocus himself and see what he want to do; if boxing is still for him or not,” Bradley explained. “You can’t be coming in overweight like that and changing weight last minute. You can’t be doing that. You’ve got to be serious.”

As for his own training camp, Bradley insists all the wheels are in motion leading up to his Oct. 12 pay per view melee with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Bradley has been putting in solid work inside of the Indio Boys and Girls Club and claims that a vegan diet is helping him maintain his weight.

“I’m weighing 152 pounds, if anybody’s wondering how much I’m weighing,” Bradley said, “Because I know I was two weeks away from the Ruslan [Provodnikov] fight and I was 165 pounds. I struggled making weight and I think that was my downfall in the fight; I wasn’t able to take a punch. I can make weight tomorrow if need be, so the weight will not be an issue.”

The fight is an intriguing stylistic matchup that will showcase Bradley’s fortitude and strength against the boxing acumen and deadly counterpunching of Marquez.

Bradley has maintained throughout the lead up to the fight that Marquez won’t be able to win a decision over him and he is sticking to his proclamation.

“I’m going to win,” Bradley stated. “If it goes twelve rounds, I’m going to win the fight, without a doubt. I keep telling everybody that if he doesn’t knock me out, he’s not going to win. I told Marquez to his face ‘If you don’t knock me out, you’re not going to win. There’s no way you’re going to outpunch me.’ He’s not.

“I’m outpunching younger fighters,” said Bradley. “He’s 40 years old. He’s going throw 1,000 punches? I doubt it. We’ll see.”

PLEASE  CHECK  OUT  Chris Robinson’s exclusive coverage from the Chavez-Vera fight night in California…

Robert Garcia feels Julio Cesar Chavez Jr landed the better punches than Brian Vera in their fight

Brian Vera wants a rematch with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. ‘I would love to do it again’

Virgil Hunter says he saw suspicious activities taking place ringside during the Chavez-Vera fight

Team Chavez Jr. claim that Julio’s injured hand affected his performance against Brian Vera

Mikey Garcia talks Chavez-Vera, the changes with Alex Ariza, facing Rocky Maritnez, more

Behind the scenes with Brandon Rios, Robert Garcia, and others at the Chavez-Vera fight in Carson

Andre Ward admits that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a natural pay per view opponent for him

Joel Diaz on Diego Magdaleno’s victory and his thoughts on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs Brian Vera

Gennady Golovkin and Abel Sanchez speak on the benefits of training at the Summit Gym in Big Bear

Robert Garcia says Chavez Jr will still be a beast vs Vera and feels he can challenge Andre Ward

Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com